Season 6, Episode 28: The Rangers' Leap of Faith

"The Rangers' Leap of Faith"
Episode 28
Air Date: October 24th, 1998

Man, I don't even know where to begin with this episode.  This maybe the peak of not the season's quality but of the tremendous effort that was put into the writing of this season.  After a quick recap of the previous episode's cliffhanger, a chained up Astronema and Andros get a nice tender moment to bond as Astronema questions what happened to their parents.  The next morning, as they approach the jungle planet, Utoba, Andros and Karone come up with a plan to make it look like she captured the rangers for Dark Specter to be destroyed.  I love the tension in the room from the rangers against Astronema as well as the nice tender moment where Karone asks Alpha to open a transmission between the Megaship and Dark Specter.  I love how Andros reacts.  Notice I'm calling Astronema Karone and it's because we're seeing more of Karone shine through, not Astronema.  After Dark Specter lowers the shields to the planet, Andros and Karone head back to the engine room so he can tie her up. Meanwhile, a group of Velocifighters escort the rangers to where Zordon is being held.  This is all really intense, especially when T.J. goes off course to lose them and the ship gets hi by lightning during a storm.  As Andros goes back to bridge to see what's going on, D.E.C.A. tells everyone to prepare for crash landing as the Megaship crashes.

As everyone recovers, Andros goes to check on Karone, only to see she has jumped ship!  While the other rangers obviously come to the conclusion that it was all a trap, Andros still believes in her as the rangers begin looking around the planet to see if Zordon is really there.  As Darkonda and Piranathron surround them, the rangers morph and fight them off as best as they can but there are too many of them unfortunately.  As the rangers try to stop Darkonda while Andros tries to go after Zordon, Darkonda blasts him as Karone helps him up.  She takes him away from the fight but Ecliptor gets in her way.  I love this moment as Ecliptor just lets them go so they can go after Zordon because he doesn't want to see Astronema in this case, get hurt. Awwwww!!! :( When the two find Zordon, he can barely speak but is able to call Andros a fool clearly! Jesus, Zordon, the guy's here to save you, you overbearing and overemotional head!!! -_-

Ohhhhh, it's Dark Specter!!! Sorry Z-man!!! 00! Anyway, it was all a trap as Darkonda brings the rest of the rangers with an army of Piranatrhon behind him.  As Dark Specter questions her allegiances, Karone makes it clear it was her pleasure!!! OH SH!T!!! o_O I love how Astronema knocks Darkonda done for good measure just to rub it in his noise how she fooled him.  As the rangers yell at her for such a deception, Andros is heartbroken his sister could betray her.  As Darkonda is ordered by her to destroy them, She blasts him until he falls over; revealing it all apart of her plan to make everyone believed she was evil but was really helping the rangers after all!!! What an awesome twist!!! As Karone frees the other rangers, Ecliptor blasts Darkonda into oblivion as he makes his way to her.  But the rangers must leave with Karone as Ecliptor tries to give them time to escape. Ehhh this is so hard to watch! Why couldn't he come with them??!! :( As the rangers fend off the Piranathron to make their way back to the ship, Astronema continues her badassery all episodes by blasts the rest of the Piranathron with her staff.  Why she doesn't just keep the Astronema attire and stops using her powers after this episode again makes no sense!!! O_o Seriously, her staff in particular was so impressive and useful!!!

Anyway, Darkonda is adamant about destroying Astronema and Ecliptor for their betrayal but Dark Specter has other plans for them....as does Darkonda.....Jesus, these villains man!!! :)  Meanwhile, as Karone and Andros enter the bridge, the other rangers apologize for not trusting her; even calling her a friend after she says she never had one.  I mean I know it's all kind of fast but Karone earned it after such an amazing double cross and risking her own life to save her brother and the rangers.  Man, these past 3 episodes man....brilliant, brilliant, brilliant....did I say BRILLIANT!!! :) What a great combination of both main storylines of the season coming together to create such an adventurous and ridiculously entertaining narrative. *Standing ovation* One of the best episodes this season none!!! :)

Final Morph: A+